Star-packed field to blaze track at Gibson Relays
published: Saturday | February 26, 2005

Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

Sizzling, exciting and close finishes are expected at today's 29th renewal of the Gibson Relays inside the National Stadium.

World junior 200m record holder, Usain Bolt, and Olympic Games relay gold medallists Aleen Bailey and Sherone Simpson, as well as other top class athletes, are down to participate.

Heading the field at the Caribbean's biggest relay carnival is the world's number one ranked 100m sprinter, Asafa Powell, along with World Championships 100m hurdles silver medallist Brigitte Foster-Hylton, Olympic Games 400m hurdles silver medallist Danny McFarlane and 2001 World Championships 200m silver medallist Chris Williams.

There will also be top school athletes such as Anneisha McLaughlin, Sonita Sutherland, Schillonie Calvert of Holmwood, Sherene Pinnock of Edwin Allen, Natasha Ruddock of St. Jago, Andre Wellington of Kingston College (KC), Josef Robertson of Calabar, Matthew Palmer of Wolmer's, Omar Brown of Holmwood, Akeen Smith of Morant Bay, among others.

strong favourites

So far, Holmwood are strong favourites to win the Class One 4x100m, 4x800m and 4x400m Open girls' events .

However, Holmwood's girls will not have things easy as they are expected to be challenged by St. Jago and Vere in the 4x100m, and Edwin Allen in the 4x800m and 4x400m.

The Class One 4x100m and 4x800m boys' events are also expected to go to Holmwood, while KC are strong favourites for the 4x400m title.

These boys' championship events will be hot as KC, Camperdown and Calabar are expected to feature in the 4x100m, while Claude McKay will be their main challenger in the two-mile event.

Today's meet will also serve as a guide for those aiming to call it right for next month's Boys & Girls Champs.

Most eyes will be on the
performances of Calabar as many believe they can beat favourites KC this year.

In the meantime, champions KC have been performing well in the development meets and will be difficult to be dethroned.

In the clubs and institutions
section, MVP with Powell looks set to take both championships relays ­ the men's 4x100m and 4x400m. Powell will run in both relays.

Today's meet will also feature the running of the inaugural Lucozade Mile for both men and women.

Among the female entries are Antigua and Barbuda's 11-year old sensation Kenryca Francis and many-time Carifta middle-distance gold medallist Janelle Williams.

Jamaica should be represented in this event by road racers Arieta Martin of Ebony and Latoya Goule of Manchester High.

The leading men are Glengoffe's Andre Drummond, road racers Andre Gutzmore of Ebony and Phillip Edwards of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF).

The champions in the Sunshine Cereals 400m hurdles will also be known today. Edwin Allen's Pinnock and KC's Leford Green are the leaders in this event. Both only need to finish in the top two to win products from the sponsors.